Month: May 2016

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about adding skills to enhance my current job (and resume). While I’m super busy at work, picking up new skills could help a lot, right?! The skillset I keep coming back to is technology. I enjoy my tech toys, but I know there’s a lot more I could learn about technology that could help my work (and maybe even my hobbies too!).

I was talking to my better half about this a few nights ago, since I’ve been looking into certificate and degree options at the local community college. I’ve also searched YouTube for some videos, and you know what’s on YouTube–pretty much everything! He suggested I try the do-it-yourself method first, and see how I like it.

This afternoon, I had another idea after looking at a former colleague’s LinkedIn profile–lynda.com! Lynda.com is full of instructional videos on all kinds of topics, and at quick glance, the technology videos look especially good! An added bonus is that I can log in and watch the videos for free since my work has an institutional account, and I can do this from work or from home. (Any suggestions for particularly good videos on lynda.com?)

So, what am I going to start with? I’ve been wanting to increase my Microsoft Excel skills for years, so I think I’ll start with some Excel videos on Lynda.com, and see if I can stick with videos as a learning method. If it works out, I’m really interested in trying my hand at some programming. I also have several dead-in-the-water websites that I’d like to resurrect, so maybe I’ll add some website building skills too.

What other technology skills might be helpful to librarians? I’d love suggestions!

I ran in my first American Library Association (ALA) election this year, for the position of New Members Round Table (NMRT) Treasurer-elect. Results were announced on Friday, and I’m happy to report that I won! In the spirit of full disclosure, I didn’t have an opponent, but there was a place for voters to add a write-in candidate, and there was one (I don’t know who). So, I came away with 99.6% of the vote, which is okay! 🙂

My term starts this July 1, and will last three years: one year as treasurer-elect, then two years as treasurer. I’m looking forward to working with the rest of the NMRT board, and will learn all I can about taking good care of the NMRT budget. I’ll attend ALA Annual this summer in Orlando, where I’ll get to sit in on some NMRT meetings as an observer, and hopefully meet the current NMRT treasurer.